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Skeletal remains found in west Las Cruces appear to belong to an adult

By Lindsey Anderson / landerson@lcsun-news.com

Posted:
02/18/2013 04:33:13 PM MST

LAS CRUCES — Investigators will spend several more days combing through the area where skeletal remains were found Sunday in west Las Cruces.

They will look through brush in the area for additional remains, clothing and personal effects, Las Cruces police spokesman Detective Frank Torres said.

A horseback rider found the remains Sunday afternoon near U.S. 70 and Interstate 10.

The remains appear to be adult sized, Torres said, but the gender and identity remain unknown.

"We're barely in the investigation stage," Torres said.

There were no clothes or identifiers near the remains. It is possible animals got to the remains, as they were not entirely intact, he said.

The body has "been out for quite a period of time," he said.

New Mexico State Police spokesman Rob McDonald said the remains have been sent to the Office of the Medical Investigator for testing and could then be given to a forensic anthropologist, who analyzes remains in advanced stages of decomposition, for examination.

It is too early in the investigation to determine if foul play is a factor, Torres said.

Las Cruces police are leading the investigation with the assistance of State Police, who responded to the scene Sunday in their mobile crime scene unit.

Lindsey Anderson can be reached at 575-541-5462. Follow her on Twitter @l_m_anderson

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